"The DPS representatives committed themselves to discuss our proposals by the end of next week and depending on their final formula, the opposition will decide whether it is acceptable for them to participate in the Working Group. If our proposals are adopted at the next session, the working group could be formed and would write a decision on the working body to deal with the change of electoral legislation. After the Assembly adopts this decision, the Working Group could officially start working, " said one of the participants in the meeting from the opposition.
In the proposals for modification of the DPS Plan to establish the Working Group, DF asked that the assembly working body is to be led by a representative of that political alliance, while SDP demanded that the working group should have co-presidents. The DPS proposal foresees that the working group has seven members from the government and the opposition, but that the president will be from the DPS. Representatives of the Front also sought the possibility of amending the Constitution and all the laws that would improve the environment to create the conditions for holding a fair election.
Parliament president Ivan Brajovic said that during the following week he will gather additional suggestions, attitudes and the opinion of all participants at the collegium.
Then, the Collegium will sum up all these impressions and form an operational group that will form a decision that the Collegium will consider and propose to the Assembly by the end of the month, Brajovic said.
Asked whether the proposal of the Democrats and the Civic Movement of the URA on the formation of an ad hoc group submitted by these parties on Wednesday was considered, Brajovic said that he will not deal with any proposal, because it is in the interest of the Assembly to bring the best possible decision. Representatives of Democrats and URA did not attend yesterday's session.
"I got their proposal. Unfortunately, I first read it on the portals, and then it was received at the Assembly. This is not a good manner, it is neither fair nor responsible. All this noise and conditionality tell me that they avoid facing with other delegates," Brajovic said, stating that no discussion of the plan submitted by those parties was discussed yesterday.
"Today, we did not have any special status for their proposal. They made that proposal in June. I do not know why someone here would have the exclusivity talk only about their proposal," added Brajovic.
Asked if only RTCG would be the subject of a working group talk, Brajovic said he would not rely only on one media, but on all of them. Commenting on the DF's suggestion that the working body should also deal with the amendment of the Constitution if necessary, Brajovic assessed that the working group should not be concerned with constitutional changes.
"It cannot be as parliament, so it could carry out any work. It is known where and how decisions are made," Brajovic said.
United Montenegro Representative Goran Danilovic said that this party will participate in the work of the interim committee only if in the previous decision and political consensus is entered and agreed that all changes will be implemented by the government of electoral unity.
"We are interested in who and in what period should we make any electoral reforms," said Danilovic, while the Vice President of the Assembly Branimir Gvozdenović said that DPS is open to all the proposals.
"The DPS Initiative is not only concerned with the electoral legislation, but also the wider ambiance surrounding the elections in 2020," added Gvozdenovic, pointing out that DPS proposed that representatives of the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT), CEMI and the Network for Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS) participate in the work of the group.
Asked if he would accept Danilovic's proposal to make all decisions by the Government of State Unity, Gvozdenovic said nothing was excluded.
President of Forca Nazif Cungu said that the Working Group should also discuss affirmative action to guarantee the participation of Albanians in parliament, while the representative of the Bosnian Party Ervin Ibrahimovic expects the formation of the Working Group. President of the Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI) Marija Vučinović said that this party insisted that it has its member in the working group.
Damjanovic is asking for open lists
Independent deputy Aleksandar Damjanovic said that an interim parliamentary committee should be formed, which would work to change the electoral legislation and monitor its application. That committee, he said, should be elected in parliament.
"The election of the parliamentary committee in the assembly is better because the work will be more serious with more legitimacy and credibility. The work of the parliamentary committee has greater political weight and seriousness. In this case, all deputies, regardless of which party, will have the opportunity to participate," he said.
Damjanovic also requested that within the electoral law reform is also the introduction of open lists. With this proposal, it is overlooked that with a political entity, a voter can vote one name on an open list where all candidates regarding the specific subject are named.
Text by Samir Kajosevic, on October 5th, 2018, read more at Vijesti
